Live the Lion was created in an attempt to keep everyone up to date on Lance O'Cull and his road to recovery.

Lance was involved in a car accident near Morehead, Kentucky about 30 miles from where we grew up Thanksgiving weekend of 2010. He was airlifted from the scene of the accident to UK Medical Center in Lexington. The doctors told us that they could fix everything below the neck, but his brain was in God's hands. On December 22, after multiple surgeries, Lance was transferred to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia for an intense rehabilitation program.

It was there that Lance began to gradually emerge from a coma. Lance was discharged to home, in Vanceburg on February 17th, to continue his therapy with family.

On March 10th, Lance's 25th birthday, he stood on his feet for the first time in 103 days, with lots of help. On May 11th, Lance was accepted into Cardinal Hill's brain injury unit. There he impressed and amazed our family and friends, as well as his therapists through the progress he made everyday.

Between September 2011 and April of 2012, Lance was back and forth between Cardinal Hill's inpatient program and Shepherd Center's inpatient and outpatient program. He has had a couple minor surgeries to enhance his healing and a baclofen pump inserted to help with the tone in his body.

For the past year, Lance is back in Lewis County splitting his time with both parents. He continues to travel to Ashland 3 times a week and Lexington once a week. He is learning to walk again and we couldn't be more thrilled.

It hasn't been easy, Lance has had some setbacks and tears still fall. But he is up and running this marathon. And we are all running right along beside him.

Most of the blog entries have been made by myself, Chelcee, the big sister, Brock, our baby brother, and Dr. Johnny, our dad. Our goal is for Lance to finish this blog as soon as he is able.

God has been with Lance and our entire family, giving us strength. We give Him the Glory. He is the God of Miracles.



~Chelcee




Saturday, December 18, 2010

Saturday, December 18th 2010

Good morning...
I may have misled a few people with my last post. First of all, I want to thank everyone for their continued prayers, support and encouragement. We couldn't do this without you! 

Secondly, Lance is making improvements every single day! Each day we see something else that he does that he didn't do the day before. 

Everyone at UK has been amazing in their care with Lance and the steps they have taken to put him back together and make him whole again. He is now finished with his bone surgeries. And is stable.  So, he won't be able to stay at UK forever. Now he needs therapy. We have been told that he can't go to Cardinal Hill just yet. But there is a program at Shepherds Center in Atlanta, Georgia. They specialize in brain and spinal cord injuries. A representative is coming to talk to us about this on Monday.  We don't even know yet if he would be accepted. We are willing to travel across the world for him to get the best opportunity possible. And those of you who know me and my family, know that he won't be going alone. 

Our prayer every day is that he wakes up. Please continue to pray for this. 
I'm sorry if there was any confusion. 
Thanks again & God Bless! 
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3 comments:

  1. MarilynDecember 18, 2010 at 10:28 AM

    I am so happy to read of continued progress and hope to drop in tomorrow and see your family. My prayers continue for Lance and for God's healing hands to remain on him.Praying that he wakes up soon.

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  2. AnitaDecember 19, 2010 at 11:23 AM

    Praying that each day brings new progress and strength for Lance and peace, comfort, and strength for all of you. We are just human and we want things to always happen in our time, so it's difficult to accept at times that everything happens in God's time. Sounds like Lance is definitely on the road to recovery. Know that love, thoughts and prayers will follow Lance no matter where he goes to get the best treatment. No one doubts for a second that you guys want only the best for Lance and you would go to the ends of the world to get it for him.

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  3. UnknownDecember 20, 2010 at 2:37 PM

    As I am sure you have read,Shepherds Center is one of the top 10 rehab hospitals in the U.S. Anxious to hear about the meeting with one of their reps. Lance is on 3 prayer lists here in Montgomery. I know he will wake up soon and be whole once again. I spoke with Betty this morning and she explained why he cannot go to the rehab there in Lexington. Love to all,Martha

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